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A central figure in one of Waikato's most baffling cold-cases has admitted killing Kerepehi woman Sara Niethe.

Mark Pakenham, her former boyfriend has today admitted a charge of manslaughter by killing Ms Niethe by unlawfully administering methamphetamine on March 30, 2003. Pakenham was charged with her murder but today at the High Court in Hamilton pleaded guilty to a reduced charge.

Pakenham also pleaded guilty to two charges of injuring with intent to injure related to two other women for incidents in 1990-1991 and 1992.

The Auckland beneficiary is the brother of senior police officer Brett Pakenham. Pakenham's plea could clear the way for Ms Niethe's family and friends to finally get answers to the almost decade-old mystery.

Ms Niethe, a mother-of-three, has not been seen since visiting Pakenham's Kaihere home 35km northwest of Morrinsville in March 2003.

Pakenham, who was interviewed by police just days after her disappearance, alleged the couple had spent the evening drinking, smoking and having sex before a brief argument.

The next day Pakenham visited Ms Niethe's house and handed her youngest daughter, Danielle, her mother's sunglasses, phone, cigarettes and lighter, saying her mother had left the items at his house the night before.

Despite an extensive search of roadside waterways, swamps and banks across the Hauraki Plains, neither Ms Niethe or the light blue Honda Civic were found. A $50,000 reward posted in 2003 also failed to shed light on Ms Niethe's disappearance.

In 2010 police conducted a full review of their investigation and, following that, an extensive reinvestigation was launched.

Evidence assembled by the investigation team was reviewed by the Hamilton Crown Solicitor before a decision was made to arrest Pakenham in August 2011.

Ms Niethe had only lived in Kerepehi for a year before her she disappeared.

The Sara Niethe File

March 30, 2003: Sara Niethe last seen leaving friend Mark Pakenham's house in Kaihere, heading for Kerepehi.

April 5, 2003: Search and rescue teams begin a three-day search along the roads Ms Niethe might have taken home but find nothing.

May 10, 2003: Pakenham speculates Ms Niethe may have been abducted after leaving his house on March 30. He denies any involvement.

July 23, 2003: A witness reports seeing Ms Niethe's car being driven erratically near Ngatea on the night of Ms Niethe's disappearance.

September 26, 2003: A $50,000 reward offered for information leading to Ms Niethe, her car or an arrest. The reward is unclaimed.

August 22, 2008: Psychics Deb Webber and Sue Nicholson suggest on television show Sensing Murder that Ms Niethe was beaten and murdered after a drug deal turned sour. Police say they need more information before reinvestigating the case.

August 18, 2011: Pakenham is charged with Ms Niethe's murder.

February 15, 2013: Pakenham appears in the High Court at Hamilton and pleads guilty to Ms Niethe's manslaughter.